Case Evaluations

We are a multilingual team. You can write to us in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Japanese, Chinese and Czech.

Preparation for Evaluation

Please note: Medical evaluations and surgical plans given by Prof. Dr. Bertagnoli are intended for the use of Prof. Dr. Bertagnoli's potential patients only. These evaluations and surgical plans presume his level of skill and experience. Spine surgeries are complex and surgical plans should not be seen as universally applicable with the same skill, research knowledge and experience across all surgeons.s.

Accurately determining the source of a patient's pain is paramount in a patient's evaluation. Back pain can have many sources such as myogenic (muscular), neurogenic (nerves), psychic (brain and psychological sources), discogenic (from the spinal disc themselves) and ,b.most commonly, nerve root compression by spinal structures. This is why a thorough investigation is imperative.

Imaging and Tests

Imaging is only part of the evaluation and patients are encouraged to contact us, even if they do not have any imaging results. Patients' histories and their pain profiles can be collected and their imaging results can be added later, because imaging is only a part of the evaluation process.

IIf you do not have any metal in your back, in most cases an MRI, as well as upright X-rays of the affected area are requested for an evaluation, along with your medical background and history of complaints. The upright X-rays should include an AP (front back), Lateral (neutral side view), Lateral flexion (neck/lower back bent forward) and Lateral extension (neck/back bent backward) views. Many people assume X-rays are not needed, because MRIs are a superior technique, but this is not true. Upright X-rays provide information about boney structures and compression of the spine under load, which is important for a complete evaluation. Upright MRIs and CTs are preferred, but are not available in most locations. The imaging can be done in Germany or in your image center. We ask that they not be more than six months old. CTs may be requested for people with pacemakers as an alternative to MRIs. Patients with metal in their spine may also receive this request, because metal can distort an MRI (these distortions are called artifacts in medical parlance). A CT may also be requested of patients after the initial evaluation to assess the condition of their facet joints. Also an ElectroMyoGraph (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Study (NCS) maybe required in some cases.

While not necessary for the initial evaluation, a bone density test of all lumbar patients to check for osteoporosis or osteopenia is required for all patients seeking artificial disc replacement (ADR) surgery. Some spine doctors do not require this, and some only require it of post-menopausal women. However, our findings show that men and younger than expected females, test positive for osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is not a disqualification for artificial disc replacement (ADR) surgery, as Prof. Dr. Bertagnoli has co-developed AMP Vertebroplasty (insertion of a ceramic material into the bone) as a method of strengthening soft bones. If you feel that orthopedic spine surgery is in your near future, you should have this easy and very affordable test..

*Note: A comprehensive medical answer to an inquiry needs time and efforts from our doctors and staff. We ask for your kind understanding that we cannot provide instant answers, but neither does your local doctor. Patient evaluations are now free to those who use our new online evaluation system.

*Note: These steps are only a general outline and there are often exceptions. The doctors may often request additional or newer tests or imaging, or the patient may have difficulty with uploading their images. There may also be conference calls between the patient and doctors.

After surgery date is selected.

1. Patient coordinators will send patient a schedule of events, forms to complete and tests to take prior to surgery.
2. Patient will complete forms, choose hotel accommodations, complete pre-operative tests and notify staff of their test results, travel arrangements and if they need an airport pickup.
3. Normally patients stay in a hotel the night before hospital admission, which is between 8:00 AM and 8:30 AM the next day.
4. Hospital admission/check-in is quite easy. A stop at the main desk at the entrance and then a walk down the hall to the ward nursing station.
5. Depending on schedules, the head ward nurse is usually the first to interview the patient, then one of Prof. Dr. Bertagnoli's staff doctors, usually Dr. Nickl, interviews the patient and draws blood for blood typing. No worries, of the thousands of patient treated by Prof. Dr. Bertagnoli only one patient has ever needed a blood transfusion. This interview is primarily focused on checking all medical information about the patient once again.
6. Next and very importantly the patient will be visited by the anesthesiologist. It is the anesthesiologist who is chiefly responsible for the patient care after the surgery.
7. Visits by the physical therapist (although little physical therapy is used in back surgeries) and the dietician will follow.
8. Last comes the visit by Prof. Dr. Bertagnoli to review the patient's case and planned intervention one more time. This can last between 15 -90 minutes depending on the complexity of the case and the number of patient questions. Note: That on some rare occasions, when the professor is called away, this interview may not take place on this day.
9. Surgery is the next day. Usually the most complicated cases go first.
10. Prof. Dr. Bertagnoli does 1 - 4 surgeries per day depending on the complexity of the cases.
11. X-ray, MRI and CT machines are available for emergency imaging at the hospital, which also has a emergency trauma center and a helipad and is a German ADAC facility.
12. After the OR, all patients go to the Post-op room and then to their rooms or the ICU, depending on the complexity of the case. ICU charges are not added to a patient's bill as this is the German medical standard of practice . ICU charges are usually $10,000 per day in the US.
13. After hospital discharge the patient is asked to stay in Germany for another 7 - 10 as an extra safety margin, should anything adverse occur.

Footnotes

*Patient video and written testimonials are the opinions of the patient. Many of these testimonials are from doctors and other medical professionals.

**Prof. Dr. Bertagnoli seeks the optimum treatment for each patient. All patients are unique; therefore their conditions, treatments and recovery will vary. Not all patients are artificial disc replacement patients and, in complex cases, artificial disc replacement may require enhancements.

***All surgery on patients coming from countries other than Germany is done by Prof. Dr. Bertagnoli.